[September 1920, no later than 12]

Telegram

Baku Azrevkom
Copy to Pre-Azneftkom Serebrovskii

According to Serebrovskii's report, foreign engineers are abandoning Baku under the influence of an excessively severe deterioration of living conditions. In view of the extraordinary significance of the oil industry for the Soviet republics, it is necessary to ensure its full provision with technical personnel. It is impossible to detain foreigners against their will; therefore, you must, without hesitating to depart from the generally observed norms, ensure the most prominent specialists with housing and also food conditions guaranteeing their work with us. In individual cases, it will be necessary to agree to grant certain major specialists a portion of their remuneration in foreign currency for transfer to their families abroad. Responsibility for retaining specialists in the oil industry rests entirely with you. Report with complete precision exactly what you have done for this purpose*.

Chairman of the Council of Defense Lenin**

Printed from a typewritten text,
Partially published in the newspaper
supplemented and signed by V. I. Lenin
"Kommunist," Baku, No. 109,
September 12, 1920

26220

NOTE TO N. N. KRESTINSKII¹
[September 1920, no earlier than 17]

Comrade Krestinskii!

Such matters ought to be directed straight to you w i t h o u t  l o s s  o f  t i m e  in transmission through me.

Lenin

* The final phrase is written in V. I. Lenin's hand.
** There is also the signature of A. I. Rykov.